Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

TTC for 18+ months and feeling low!

546 replies

Natty2 · 02/09/2023 14:42

I'm fairly new at this forum and decided to join after TTC since the start of 2022
We discovered earlier this year that my DH morphology was low, although all other results were normal. He implemented life style changes straight away, and even went through a varicocele embolisation a few months ago, so we're waiting to see if that's helped.

Having gone through the rest of the year undergoing tests everything seems normal, so the NHS are not letting us even get on the IVF list until 2024. It's been such a long, physical and emotional journey and there seems to be no end in sight.

Anyone else going through similar things? I feel like I live life in 2 week cycles and it's so hard to try and not think about it all!!
Any tips?!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
missmoosh · 01/02/2024 09:08

@Natty2 really hoping you get some positive news today, have everything crossed for you. ❤️

Emz09 · 31/01/2024 10:53

@LucyLoopyLu oh wow so quite quickly really once the ball was rolling. Ok that's interesting to know about the IVF process that it's 2 years before being referred, thank you. Our initial appointment was supposed to be January but it got cancelled, really hoping it's not a sign things to come 🫣

LucyLoopyLu · 31/01/2024 10:39

@Emz09 we started trying in March 2022, had some tests privately after 6 months and there was nothing flagged so carried on. Then after we had been trying for 12 months we went to the GP - I can't remember the exact date but maybe June-ish time last year - we had a 2 month break from trying for a big holiday so I wanted to give it 12 cycles. There was quite a bit of waiting for initial appointments but once I had the hyfosy done in November things moved quite fast. I had turned 35 in October as well so that means we didn't have to wait for the 2 year mark to be referred for IVF, which is fairly standard for unexplained infertility I think.

Emz09 · 31/01/2024 10:10

@LucyLoopyLu

Thank you for sharing your experience with me. Suppose I really do just have to wait and see. Do you mind me asking what sort of timeframe this has taken from GP to where you are now?

Praying and hoping everything goes well with your IVF appointment x

LucyLoopyLu · 31/01/2024 09:45

@Emz09 welcome to the thread.
I think it depends on your local authority exactly what the different stages look like and what appointments you have. And also whether they find something they can treat.

We're unexplained, so had tests organised by the local GP, semen analysis for my husband, and then I went to the local hospital for a hyfosy, where they reviewed everything and then referred me for IVF. After that I had my first appointment at the assisted conception unit and now I'm waiting for my nurse's appointment which is the last one before we start IVF.

LucyLoopyLu · 31/01/2024 09:30

@Natty2 I'm so sorry this isn't the outcome you deserve. I've been thinking of you. Hope you are ok and those 3 fertilised are now good quality embryos for you. Let us know how you are when you can x

Emz09 · 30/01/2024 08:45

@CatCaretaker thank you 🤍 praying we get some answers, so far bloods and semen analysis are "normal" so will just have to see what nhs chapter holds.

CatCaretaker · 29/01/2024 22:42

@Natty2 have you had any update, or will you not hear anything until the 5 days are up?

CatCaretaker · 29/01/2024 22:41

@Emz09 welcome,and sorry you're having such a hard time. The frustration and unfairness of it all really gets you down doesn't it?

Hopefully the fertility tests are helpful, and, if anything is found, that it's an easy thing they can fix.

Emz09 · 29/01/2024 15:40

Hi, I hope you don't mind me jumping onto this thread. This is the first thread I have found that I can relate to. I just wanted to say it given me some hope and comfort. AF has just arrived so we now move onto cycle 19 and just feeling angry and frustrated today.

Our first NHS fertility appointment is next month and I'm just wondering if any of you would be kind enough to shed some light on what to expect on the first appointment please? Thank you in advance.

Wishing you all the best with your journey's <3

CatCaretaker · 27/01/2024 13:51

@Natty2 fingers crossed for those lucky 3, the wait must be awful.

Foreverhopeful92 · 27/01/2024 12:04

@Natty2 sorry to hear this! :( Hoping you have some good news in 5 days time! Keeping my fingers crossed for you ❤️

missmoosh · 27/01/2024 11:34

Oh no, I'm so sorry! Crossing everything for you that those 3 make it to day 5 for you. Have they given any indication as to what they think has gone wrong? Or just bad luck? Really hope you don't have to go through it all again

Original poster
Natty2 · 27/01/2024 10:42

Seem to be getting more disappointment 😞
Of our 14 eggs collected (which we thought was great) only 5 were mature and only 3 fertilised.
Have to prepare ourselves that we may have nothing to freeze in 5 days time 💔
Hope that they are strong, but think we need to prepare ourselves for doing this all again 😞

OP posts:
missmoosh · 26/01/2024 18:35

@Natty2 hope your collection went well today 😊

LucyLoopyLu · 25/01/2024 21:43

@Natty2 oh no, sorry about the disappointment and the waiting. That's got to hit hard, especially when you're in the weeds of it now and just want to see the progress. Hoping you get some great eggs and get plenty of good embryos frozen. Will keep my fingers crossed for you. All you can do is just focus on one day at a time for now and look after yourself.

Hope egg collection goes ok, good luck and make sure you get some rest afterwards x

missmoosh · 25/01/2024 19:14

@Natty2 do let us know how tomorrow goes for you. Praying you have an excellent fertilisation rate!
Oh God I hope it's not too horrific doing a fet, although I'm sure I read before they are normally more successful than fresh transfers?
Sending big hugs to you both, you got this!

Original poster
Natty2 · 25/01/2024 15:15

@missmoosh still 22 but at least 13 of those are below 10 though so unlikely to be mature.
The rest are between 11-25. No idea what to expect tomorrow, and then we'll get an update on sat as to how many are fertilised 🤞
Just hoping we at least get a good few to day 5 blastocyst so they can be frozen.
Have no idea about trying in the meantime, I need to do more research on the FET cycle but think I'll be back on meds for at least a month including more injections 🙃 hoping they will go through these next steps within the coming weeks.
Just feeling quite deflated, particularly as we were so excited this morning about it all coming together. Feels never ending at the moment!

OP posts:
missmoosh · 25/01/2024 14:44

@Natty2 exciting news about collection, how many follicles do you have now?
I'm so sorry to hear that it's got to be a freeze all, that's such a brutal wait. I don't think anything I can say will make you feel better, but just know they know what they are doing and want you to have success, even if that means waiting. Do you think you will continue trying whilst you wait?

Original poster
Natty2 · 25/01/2024 14:11

@missmoosh @LucyLoopyLu
Hope you are both well,
Update from me, I had a trigger shot last night and ready for egg collection tomorrow morning. However, just got some disappointing news that my blood tests yesterday picked up on high levels of progesterone which means they have to do a freeze all.
Looks like I won't be able to have transfer until at least April (they said 3rd bleed) so so gutted 😞

OP posts:
LucyLoopyLu · 22/01/2024 21:33

@DesteBso sorry, I tagged you by mistake and then pressed "post" at the same time 🫣 sorry for the notification

@Natty2 22 woop woop! Come on follicles. Really rooting for you. Hope the side effects are not too hard on you. Thanks for the offer of advice, it's so nice of you. I don't know what advice I need at the moment. Feeling very overwhelmed by it all the past couple of days but I think it's because I'm getting my period. Those hormones eh

Original poster
Natty2 · 22/01/2024 15:52

@missmoosh not yet, think it will really just depend on the day! Hoping the big ones don't get much bigger as they can be over mature, but also hope the other ones catch up, so we'll see!
Felt ok otherwise thanks, felt abit sick earlier on last week but think I was getting used to the drugs, been feeling fine otherwise and the injections really don't seem to phase me anymore which is crazy how quickly you get used to it!

Hope you are doing ok!

OP posts:
missmoosh · 22/01/2024 13:21

@Natty2 oh that's exciting! Have they said how many they reckon they will be able to collect? Not long now until collection then!
Oh bless you, not long left of feeling heavy an uncomfortable hopefully, how have you felt other than that during it all?

Original poster
Natty2 · 22/01/2024 12:37

@missmoosh @LucyLoopyLu
hi both!
Just had scan 3, have gone up from 14 to 22 follicles over the weekend, although the new ones are quite small!
I've got 2 measuring 21mm already though and about 6 between 12-16mm, so hopefully they will get closer to 18mm by Wednesday and then I should be ready for egg retrieval on Friday 🤞🤞
Explains why I was feeling so "heavy" and uncomfortable over the weekend!
@LucyLoopyLu happy to give any advice before you start your ivf!

OP posts:
LucyLoopyLu · 21/01/2024 22:43

@missmoosh keeping my fingers crossed for you

@Natty2 hope you're doing ok x

Swipe left for the next trending thread